Garment having adjustable plastic buckle



Dec. 3, 1963 w. M. JONAS GARMENT HAVING ADJUSTABLE PLASTIC BUCKLE Filed July 19, 1960 IN V EN TOR. WALTER M. JONAS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,112,750 GARMENT HAVENG ADEUSTABLE PLASTIC BUCKLE Walter M. lonas, Eastern, Pa, assignor to Soles! Metal Products, lnc., Easton, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvanla Filed Iuly 19, 196%, er. No. 43,756 7 Claims. (Cl. 128-516) This invention relates to an adjustable plastic buckle for use on garments.

Heretofore, it has been conventional to use a buckle for attaching a strap to the garment. The buckle has been provided with a plurality of slots for adjustably securing the strap to the buckle. The buckle is usually provided with a slot through which a loop of material is inserted with the ends of the loop of the material being sewn to the garment. The strap is usually threaded to the buckle by being inserted through a gap defined by spaced prongs on the buckle.

i have found that the strap and buckle arrangement used heretofore have not been entirely satisfactory. The arrangement of the strap and the buckle in the devices used heretofore includes two layers of the strap material extending through the uppermost slot on the buckle. The top layer of the strap material has been freed and capable of being moved in the uppermost slot and the gap, and the top layer of the strap usually works its way loose or tends to pinch in the center resulting in a sloppy and unsatisfactory working relationship. The provision of a loop of material extending through a slot in the buckle and sewn to the garment requires additional cutting, sewing, and assembly steps which I have found to be unnecessary and which can be avoided by using a structural interrelationship as set forth in the present invention.

it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above and other disadvantages of the prior art.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a plastic buckle which is adjustably secured at one end to a strap and sewn directly to the garment at its other end.

t is another object of the present invention to provide a structural interrelationship between a strap and a garment whereby the conventional loop of material has been eliminated.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a plastic buckle for cooperation with a strap whereby the strap will remain fiat, smooth, and will not be able to slip out of position.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a garment having a buckle sewn thereto, wherein the lines or" stitching extend directly through the material of the buckle.

it is still another object of the present invention to provide a plastic buckle for a garment wherein the plastic buckle provides for more even distribution of stresses.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a partial top plan view of a garment embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of the buckle of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of buckle shown in FZGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a partial top plan view of a garment disclosing another embodiment of the present invention.

3,1 1235s Patented Dec. 3, 1953 ice FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the buckle shown in FIGURE 5.

FiGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the buckle shown in FIGURE 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a garment designated generally as it). The garment It? is shown as abrassiere. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the garment ll? may be a slip, a brasellette, etc. The garment it} need not be an undergarment, but may be an outer garment. For example, the present invention can be utilized in outer garments such as open-back sundresses having a shoulder strap, play clothes, etc.

The garment it as shown in FIGURE 1, comprises a brassiere having side panels 12 and 14. The side panel 12 is secured to a central panel 16 of elastomeric material by overlapping adjoining edges and providing a line of stitching 18 across the overlapped portions. The side panel 14 is secured to the central panel 16 in like manner by the line oi stitching 2b. The central panel 16 is made from an elastomeric material and is provided with a diamond-shaped panel of fabric 22.

A bust cup 2 1- is secured to the side panel 14 and the central panel 16 by a panel 26 of open-type or mesh elastomeric material. The bust cup 24' is secured to the side panel 12 and the central panel 16 by a panel 26 of open-type or mesh elastomeric material. A lace trim 28 extends along the upper surface of the side panel 12, side panel 14, bust cup 24, central panel 16, and bust cup 24.

A plastic buckle 3t) is provided so that the shoulder strap 32 may be adjusted relative to the bust cups Z4 and 24. The buckle 33 is preferably made from a synthetic plastic such as polypropylene, nylon-Delrin, etc. The buckle 31 comprises a body 3-4 and an integral tab 36. As seen more clearly in FIGURE 3, the tab' 36 has a thickness slightly less than one-half the thickness of the body portion 34.

The body 34 of the buckle 34) is provided with an elongated slot 38. The slot 33 may be referred to as a first elongated slot. A second elongated slot 4 3- is provided in the body portion 34 spaced from the slot 33. A third elongated slot 42 is provided in the body portion 3 spaced rom the slot 4b. The third slot 42 is partially defined by the prongs 44 and 46 which extend toward each other. The ends of the prongs 4-4- and 4-6 are spaced from one another so as to define a small gap therebetween. The provision of a gap between the ends of prongs on a buckle has been conventional. However, the gap between the ends of the prongs 4-4 and 46 is substantially smaller than the gap which has been conventionally provided heretofore.

As seen more clearly in FIGURE 4, the bust cup 24 comprises an outer layer of fabric 43, an inner layer of fabric 5%, and a central layer of padding 52. The uppermost edge of the outer layer of fabric 48 extends over the outermost edge of the padding 52. and is positioned between the padding 52 and the inner layer of fabric 5%}. The tab 35 on the buckle 39 is juxtaposed to the inner layer of fabric 51 and fixedly secured thereto by a line of stitching The line of stitching 54 extends through the outer layer of fabric '48, the padding 52, the inner layer fabric 5%), and through the material of the tab 36. The thickness of the tab 36 has been reduced so that the needle for the stitching 54 readily penetrates the material of the tab 36.

The strap 32 is adjusted relative to the bust cup 24 as follows:

The end 56 of the strap 32 is inserted through the slot 38 from left to right in FIGURE 4. The end 56 is then extended over the surface of the land portion 53 and then inserted through the slot 46 from right to left in FIGURE 4. Then the end 56 is extended over the surface of the land portion 60 and is then inserted through the slot 42 from left to right in FIGURE 4. The strap 32 is then positioned against the body 34 and an intermediate portion of the strap 32- is extended through the slot The intermediate portion of the strap 32 is extended through the slot 42 by flexing the prongs 44 and 46 so as to increase the size of the gap between the ends of the prongs 44 and 46. The intermediate portion of the strap 32 is inserted through the gap and the prongs 4d and 46 are then permitted to return to an at rest or normal position. Thus, it will be seen that two layers of the strap 32 extend through the slot 42. The gap between the ends of the prongs 44 and 46 has a length which is an absolute minimum. The intermediate portion of the strap 32 is capable of being inserted through the slot 42 because of the transverse iiexural strength of the prongs 44 and 46. This construction completely captivates the intermediate portion of the strap 32, maintains it flat and smooth, and prevents the strap 32 from slipping relative to the buckle 39.

When it is desired to adjust the length of the strap 32 relative to the bust cup 24', the intermediate portion of the strap 32 is withdrawn from the slot 42 by flexing the prongs 4d and 46 and Withdrawing the intermediate portion through the gap formed thereby. If it is desired to shorten the length of the strap 32, pressure is applied to the end 56 in an upward direction in FIGURE 4. If it is desired to lengthen the strap 32 relative to the bust cup 24, a slight amount of tension is exerted on the strap 32 in an upward direction in FIGURE 4. After the strap 32 has been adjusted relative to the bust cup 24','the intermediate portion of the strap 32 is reinserted through the slot 42 in the manner set forth above.

As shown more clearly in FIGURES -7, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the present invention mounted on a garment designated generally as It). The garment 1G is shown as a brassiere; However, it will be appreciated that other garments such as slips, brasellettes, bathing suits, play clothes, etc. may be substituted for the brassiere shown in FIGURE 5.

The brassiere comprises a side panel 12' of elastomeric material secured to an edge of a central panel 16 by overlapping the adjacent edges and providing a line of stitching 62. A second side panel (not shown) is secured to an opposite end of the central panel 16. The bust cup 66 is secured to the central panel 16 by a U-shaped wire support 64. The U-shaped wire support 64 is encased Within a hem formed by a pair of parallel lines of stitching and per se forms no part of the present invention. The bust cup 66 is provided with an upper portion 68 of open mesh material. An edging 69 extends across the uppermost edge of the mesh material 68. A portion of the edging 69 is formed of elastomeric material as shown at '79.

The strap 32 is adjustable relative to the bust cup 66 by cooperation with a buckle 3%. The buckle 36' is provided with a body portion 34 which is identical with the body portion 34 on the buckle 3d. The body portion 34' is provided with a pair of depending tabs 72 and '74. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 6, the tabs '72 and 74 converge toward the body portion 34'. As seen more clearly in FIGURE 7, the tabs 72 and 74 have a thickness substantially less than the thickness of the body portion 34'. As used hereinafter, the buckle may be referred to as a Y-shaped buckle.

The buckle 30' is made from the same material as the buckle 3G. The tabs 72 and 74 are sewed to the edging 59 by a line of stitching 75. The Y-shape of the buckle 38 provides for a more even distribution of stresses. The elastic portion 70 of the edging 69 permits the bust cup and the strap 32 to have a self-accommodating feature. The strap 32 is adjusted relative to the buckle 36' 4 in the same manner as the strap 32 is adjusted relative to the buckle 31 The provision of a plastic buckle having a tab portion sewndirectly to the garment results in an enormous saving to the manufacturers. It eliminates the cutting of loop material, the attaching of the loop to the buckle, the sewing of the loop to the garment, and saves the cost of the material in the loop.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a brassiere comprising a bust cup, 21 plastic buckle having a body portion and an integral tab extending from one end thereof, said tab having one of its surfaces juxtaposed to an edge portion of said bust cup, stitching extending through the material or" said tab securing said tab to said bust cup, means on the body portion for releasably securing an end of a strap thereto, a side panel connected to said bust cup, the other end or" said strap being secured to said side panel.

2. In a brassiere in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means comprises a plurality of elongated spaced slots, said strap extending through said slots, two layers of said strap extending through one of said slots, said one slot bein partially defined by integral flexible prongs on said body portion, the ends of said prongs being spaced from one another to define a small gap having a Width less than the thickness of said strap.

3. In a brassiere in accordance with claim 2 including a central panel, said bust cup being attached to said central panel and said side panel by a zone of elastomeric material, said buckle being made from polypropylene, said tab being imperforate, said tab having a thickness less than the thickness of said body portion.

4. In a brassiere in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tab has a thickness less than the thickness of said body portion of said buckle.

5. A brassiere in accordance with claim 4 including a second tab integral with said body portion, said tabs converging toward said body portion, whereby said buckle is Y-shaped, and stitching extending through the material of said second tab thereby joining said second tab to said bust cup at a point spaced from the area of said bust cup joined to said first mentioned tab.

6. A brassiere in accordance with claim 5 wherein a portion of said edge of said bust cup is made from elastomeric material.

7. In a garment comprising a body, a strap, a Y-shaped plastic buclde, said buckle having a body portion and a pair of tabs converging toward said body portion, said body portion being provided with means for releasably securing said strap, said tabs being integral with said body portion, and stitching extending through the material of said tabssecuring said tabs to said body at spaced points, the thickness of the portion of said tabs through which said stitching extends being less than the thickness of said body portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,485,266 Hennah Feb. 26, 1924 1,719,470 Hirsh July 2, 1929 2,285,714 Hirsh June 9, 1942 2,548,162 Karels Apr. 10; 1951 2,586,159 Grishman Feb. 19, 1952 2,675,550 Leventhal Apr. 20, 1954 2,782,418 Garson Feb. 26, 1957 2,852,781 Ganser Sept. 23, 1958 2,908,913 Sobel Oct. 20, 1959 2,912,985 Plehn Nov. 17, 1959 

1. IN A BRASSIERE COMPRISING A BUST CUP, A PLASTIC BUCKLE HAVING A BODY PORTION AND AN INTEGRAL TAB EXTENDING FROM ONE END THEREOF, SAID TAB HAVING ONE OF ITS SURFACES JUXTAPOSED TO AN EDGE PORTION OF SAID BUST CUP, STITCHING EXTENDING THROUGH THE MATERIAL OF SAID TAB SECURING SAID TAB TO SAID BUST CUP, MEANS ON THE BODY PORTION FOR RELEASABLY SECURING AN END OF A STRAP THERETO, A SIDE PANEL CONNECTED TO SAID BUST CUP, THE OTHER END OF SAID STRAP BEING SECURED TO SAID SIDE PANEL. 